Coaster



Dea l3 1932. y H L, BEAH 1,891.077

COASTER Filed Jan. 2l, 1952 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE HE1\I`.|R.Y L. BEACH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COASTEB .Application led January 21, 1932. Serial No. 588,009.y

c hand.

The invention primarily comprehends a coaster or device of the indicated character which is constructed of an absorbent and inherently resilient material and which is adapted to be engaged with the bottom of a receptacle and remain thereon under its contractile action while the same is in use, to afford means for receiving and absorbing liquid which gravitates down the side of the receptacle.

' The invention aims for one of its principal objects to provide a coaster which is so constructed as to render the same applicable to receptacles of various diameters, and this without affecting its functional eiiciency of collecting the liquid which gravitates down the sides of the receptacle.

More specifically, the invention resides in an improved coaster which comprises a cup shaped body having an apertured radially split bottom anda rim having a diagonal slit communicating with one of the bottom slits to render the body circumferentially eX- pansible and contractible so as to accommodate receptacles of varying diameter, while the diagonal slit in the rim functions to prevent a direct gravitation of the liquid from the sides and insures interception thereof in view of the fact that the edges of the rim defining the diagonal slit are always disposed in vertically overlapped relation.

The invention further contemplates in combination withl a coaster of the character set forth an insert or lining sleeve which is adapted to bek arranged within the coasterl to further widen or increase the range of adjustability of the' device to receptacles of varying sizes.

Other objects reside in the comparative simplicity of construction of the device, the

economy with which it may be produced and the general eciency derived therefrom.

.With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention while the claims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the coaster body e0 in its normal fully contracted condition.

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the circumferential expansion of the same.

Figure 3 is a side view of the coaster in applied position to a drinking glass.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional viewthrough .the coaster illustrating the insert or lining sleeve in place and showing the device applied to a drinking glass.

Figure 5 is a s'de view of the lining sleeve 70 or insert removed.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the coaster, which is formed of a resilient absorbent material, includes a flat annuarbottom 10 formed with a marginal upstanding rim 11 at the outer periphery thereof. The bottom 10 is formed with a plural ty of radial slits 12 and a substantially diagonal radial slit 13, the opposite inner and outer terminals 14 and 15 of which are sub- 8 stantially radial. The rim 11 is formed with a diagonal slit 16, the opposite upper and lower terminals 17 vand 18 of which are substantia'ly vertical. The terminal 18 of the diagonal slit 16 of the rim 11 communicates 5 with the radial outer terminal 15 of the slit 13 of the bottom, so that the coaster body is split to permit of the circumferential expansion thereof while the resilient nature of the materal from which it is constructed'tends to normally circumferentially contract the same toV grip and hold the bottom of a drinking glass or receptacle A, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. Due to the diagonal arrangement of the slit 16, the ends of the rim will be disposed in a vertically overlapped relation at all times, thereby intercepting liquids which drain down the outer surface of the receptacle A and absorbing the same before they can drop therefrom or reach a support upon which the receptacle is to be rested.

If desired, the rim 11 may be formed with an intermediate concavo-convex offset portion or bead 19 presenting on its inner side a groove 20, and use may be made of an insert or filler sleeve 21 which is also provided with a diagonal slit 22 having upper and lower vertical terminals 23 and 24. The upper end of the insert or filler sleeve is flared upwardly and outwardly as at 25 to provide a wide entrance mouth for facilitating the insertion of a receptacle therein, and the insert or filler sleeve is provided with a circumferential eilargement or bead 26 which is designed to in'- terengage with the groove 20 in the rim 11. By providing the insert or ller sleeve 21, it is apparent that the coaster may be made to accommodate receptacles B of a smaller size than the minimum internal diameter of the rim 11 of the coaster body. When the insert or filler sleeve is employed, its split portion will preferably be disposed in staggered relation to the slit 16 in the coaster body to further increase the eihciency of the device in collecting moisture and preventing the same from escaping from the coaster.

In use, it is to be understood that the inherent resiliency which tends to contract the rim will serve to frictionally fix and associate the coaster with the bottom of the receptacle A, so that the same remains in place thereon until removal. Preferably, the coaster will be made of an inexpensive material so that it may be thrown away after a single use.

While there has been illustrated and described a preferred disclosure of the invention, it is to be understood that variations and modifications thereof which fall within the scope and the language of the appended claims may be resorted to when desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A coaster comprising a substantially cup shaped body of absorbent resilient material having a centrally apertured radially slitted bottom and a marginal rim formed with a diagonal slit communicating with one of the bottom slits.

2. A coaster constructed of resilient absorbent material comprising a bottom and a marginal upstanding rim, said bottom and rim having communicating diagonal slits and said bottom having additional radial slits to render the coaster circumferentially eX- pansible and inherently contractible about tle ottom of a receptacle to which it isapp 1e 3. A coaster fashioned from a resilient absorbent material including a bottom and an upstanding marginal rim at the outer periphery thereof, said bottom having a plurality of substantially radial slits and said rim having a diagonal slit communicating with one of the bottom slits whereby the coaster is circumferentially expansible to accommodate itself to receptacles of various diameters and whereby the same is inherently contracted about the receptacle to which it is applied.

4. A coaster fashioned from a resilient absorbent material including a flat annularcbottom and an upstanding marginal rim at its outer periphery, said bottom having a plurality of radial slits and a substantially diagonal slit having radial terminals extending respectively through the inner and outer peripheries thereof, said rim having a diagonal slit having vertical terminals extending through the upper and lower edges thereof, the lower terminal communicating with the outer radial terminal of the bottom diagonal slit.

5. A coaster comprising a substantially cup shaped body of resilient absorbent material having an apertured radially slitted bottom and a marginal rim at the outer periphery and having a diagonal slit communicating with one of the bottom slits in combination with a split filler sleeve disposed within the marginal rim.

6. A coaster comprising a substantially cup shaped body of resilient absorbent material having an apertured radially slitted bottom and a marginal rim at the outer periphery and having a diagonal slit communicating with one of the bottom slits in combination with a split filler sleeve disposed within the marginal rim and interengaging means for detachably retaining the filler sleeve within the coaster rim.

7. A coaster' comprising a substantially cup shaped body of resilient absorbent material having an apertured radially slitted bottom and a marginal rim at the outer periphery and having a diagonal slit communicating with one of the bottom slits in combination with a split filler sleeve disposed within the marginal rim and interengaging means for detachably retaining the filler sleeve within the coaster rim, said means consisting of an annular depression and projections formed respectively on the engaging peripheries of the rim and sleeve.

HENRY L. BEACH. 

